Army, Navy units to pump out water in NYC

Gov. Andrew Cuomo says President Barack Obama is sending crews and equipment from the Army and Navy to help pump out New York City's swamped subway tunnels. WAMC's Dave Lucas reports.

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The Governor says an elite Army "de-watering" team that had been deployed during Hurricane Katrina is being sent from Illinois. That team should be pumping out large amounts of seawater by Thursday morning. The U.S. Navy is also sending pumps used on ships.

Cuomo says Wednesday the job is immense. He says the PATH commuter line tunnels to New Jersey are filled to the standing platforms for five miles.

The state's Metropolitan Transportation Authority says every day the subway system is closed costs it $18 million in revenue.

Buses are now being used to help carry 5.5 million daily subway riders.